Rondo skips trip to sacramento

[Eddie20]

According to Ainge:

“He let Brad know and he let me know that he was going to stay in L.A. an extra day,” Ainge said in his weekly interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “We didn’t think that he should, but [told him] ‘It’s your choice and there may be consequences if you stay.’ It’s that simple.”

So, it sounds like the team didn't say yes, but didn't exactly say no, either, then perhaps leaked the details to the media as a lesson.

The lesson being "You can't trust us to keep private conversations private and later when you hear us say we're keeping it in house you'll know we're phonies"

Wow. Head games with a guy that's smarter than you. Wow.

Are you implying that Rondo is smarter than Stevens? I hope that's now what you meant. If so, you might want to look up the work he was doing, prior to his Butler days, with a major pharmaceutical company in terms of analytics.

But is he smart enough to figure out how to get a trip doub against D Rose and avoid a totally unnecessary fight with his star up for free agency in a year? Because if he's not this pharmaceutical stuff won't help

So a triple double measures a persons intelligence? If so, Kidd is doing mankind a disservice in not doing extensive work in the field of molecular science .

[Fafnir]

Lets cut out the debate on Brad/Rondo's relative intelligence. Its OT, its silly, and looks to be heading towards a full flame war.

[kozlodoev]

I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to. I doubt Lebron left there for all the structure and team rules in Miami.

Lebron left despite all the pampering he got in Cleveland. So the fact that Ainge may need Rondo doesn't mean he'll keep him by allowing him to do as he pleases.

Yeah you're right. Better be like "Hell no you ain't spending your birthday with your family! You got a game to play...errr..watch tomorrow! Get with the program. You need to learn discipline like Jared Sullin...I mean like Brad Stevens"

Gotta pick your battles.

It's a pretty good battle to pick, as far as I am concerned, unless you want to establish that informing the team rather than asking for permission as the norm.

[kozlodoev]

Given that this whole issue is because Brad/Ainge don't want Doc's policies going forward I wouldn't point to Doc as a great leader while bemoaning this incident.

Doc's policies were designed to cater to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last time I checked, they worked pretty great for them.

I guess it should be pretty obvious why the management may suspect the professionalism of the current bunch is not sufficient for these policies to remain in place -- given the fact that the team captain apparently thought it was a good idea to throw a party during a scheduled team trip without notifying management until it was a done deal.

Because PP, KG, Ray never did such a thing? I'd be shocked if they hadn't based on what we know of Doc's policies, those three players, and the current incident.

I'd be shocked if Garnett or Pierce ever ignored a request from the management to travel with the team regardless of what their perception of the situation may have been.

[Eja117]

I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to. I doubt Lebron left there for all the structure and team rules in Miami.

Lebron left despite all the pampering he got in Cleveland. So the fact that Ainge may need Rondo doesn't mean he'll keep him by allowing him to do as he pleases.

Yeah you're right. Better be like "Hell no you ain't spending your birthday with your family! You got a game to play...errr..watch tomorrow! Get with the program. You need to learn discipline like Jared Sullin...I mean like Brad Stevens"

Gotta pick your battles.

It's a pretty good battle to pick, as far as I am concerned, unless you want to establish that informing the team rather than asking for permission as the norm.

If you're the star player up for free agency next year and you're not playing anyway? I would have no problem whatsoever with that being the norm. Call a team meeting and be like

Hey guys. New norm. Once you get as good as Rondo, and you have a birthday, and you're not playing anyway we don't mind if you inform us you'll skip watching a game to have a birthday party with family members.

I'd be fine with that.

All they had to say was "Don't do that again. We need you with the team. We hope you had a good night"

They didn't need to tell him about consequences or leak anything to anyone and then mention they were keeping it in house.

If I'm his agent I'm calling and am like "Sooooo...you outted my guy to the media unnecessarily. You know there may be consequences for that, right?"

Gotta pick your battles. They didn't pick this one, or the manner is which they fought it, very wisely.

[Fafnir]

Given that this whole issue is because Brad/Ainge don't want Doc's policies going forward I wouldn't point to Doc as a great leader while bemoaning this incident.

Doc's policies were designed to cater to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last time I checked, they worked pretty great for them.

I guess it should be pretty obvious why the management may suspect the professionalism of the current bunch is not sufficient for these policies to remain in place -- given the fact that the team captain apparently thought it was a good idea to throw a party during a scheduled team trip without notifying management until it was a done deal.

Because PP, KG, Ray never did such a thing? I'd be shocked if they hadn't based on what we know of Doc's policies, those three players, and the current incident.

I'd be shocked if Garnett or Pierce ever ignored a request from the management to travel with the team regardless of what their perception of the situation may have been.

I wouldn't be.

I also would be shocked if such a request was ever made of them given that they were not expected to travel with the team on off-days.

Either way it certainly wasn't leaked to reporters to inspire some hit pieces in the media. That's really the only thing that we can be sure of.

[TwinTower14]

I do like Rondo but can we quit the talk that he is the smartest guy in the room???  The fact is that he isn't, he is a good basketball player who seems to run into issues with whoever his coach is ( Tubby Smith, Doc and Stevens )...I love the people that are supporting him on here, he is wrong on this one.  I bet you guys would be killing Lebron, Melo, Paul, Kobe, Howard etc...if they pulled a stunt like this.  Rondo made a mistake, hopefully he learns from and the team can move on...

[Eja117]

Given that this whole issue is because Brad/Ainge don't want Doc's policies going forward I wouldn't point to Doc as a great leader while bemoaning this incident.

Doc's policies were designed to cater to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last time I checked, they worked pretty great for them.

I guess it should be pretty obvious why the management may suspect the professionalism of the current bunch is not sufficient for these policies to remain in place -- given the fact that the team captain apparently thought it was a good idea to throw a party during a scheduled team trip without notifying management until it was a done deal.

Because PP, KG, Ray never did such a thing? I'd be shocked if they hadn't based on what we know of Doc's policies, those three players, and the current incident.

I'd be shocked if Garnett or Pierce ever ignored a request from the management to travel with the team regardless of what their perception of the situation may have been.

Well then they can win the Good Person trophy or something. Take it from Sully and give it to them I guess. In the mean time we need great basketball players on this team who actually want to be here and don't demand max contracts. Do you know anyone like that? We need that. Not obedient little boy scouts or something.

[kozlodoev]

I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to. I doubt Lebron left there for all the structure and team rules in Miami.

Lebron left despite all the pampering he got in Cleveland. So the fact that Ainge may need Rondo doesn't mean he'll keep him by allowing him to do as he pleases.

Yeah you're right. Better be like "Hell no you ain't spending your birthday with your family! You got a game to play...errr..watch tomorrow! Get with the program. You need to learn discipline like Jared Sullin...I mean like Brad Stevens"

Gotta pick your battles.

It's a pretty good battle to pick, as far as I am concerned, unless you want to establish that informing the team rather than asking for permission as the norm.

If you're the star player up for free agency next year and you're not playing anyway? I would have no problem whatsoever with that being the norm. Call a team meeting and be like

Hey guys. New norm. Once you get as good as Rondo, and you have a birthday, and you're not playing anyway we don't mind if you inform us you'll skip watching a game to have a birthday party with family members.

I'd be fine with that.

All they had to say was "Don't do that again. We need you with the team. We hope you had a good night"

They didn't need to tell him about consequences or leak anything to anyone and then mention they were keeping it in house.

If I'm his agent I'm calling and am like "Sooooo...you outted my guy to the media unnecessarily. You know there may be consequences for that, right?"

Gotta pick your battles. They didn't pick this one, or the manner is which they fought it, very wisely.

That's all dandy. Except we know nothing about what was said and in what manner (it seems it wasn't a good leak, after all).

[TwinTower14]

I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to. I doubt Lebron left there for all the structure and team rules in Miami.

Lebron left despite all the pampering he got in Cleveland. So the fact that Ainge may need Rondo doesn't mean he'll keep him by allowing him to do as he pleases.

Yeah you're right. Better be like "Hell no you ain't spending your birthday with your family! You got a game to play...errr..watch tomorrow! Get with the program. You need to learn discipline like Jared Sullin...I mean like Brad Stevens"

Gotta pick your battles.

It's a pretty good battle to pick, as far as I am concerned, unless you want to establish that informing the team rather than asking for permission as the norm.

If you're the star player up for free agency next year and you're not playing anyway? I would have no problem whatsoever with that being the norm. Call a team meeting and be like

Hey guys. New norm. Once you get as good as Rondo, and you have a birthday, and you're not playing anyway we don't mind if you inform us you'll skip watching a game to have a birthday party with family members.

I'd be fine with that.

All they had to say was "Don't do that again. We need you with the team. We hope you had a good night"

They didn't need to tell him about consequences or leak anything to anyone and then mention they were keeping it in house.

If I'm his agent I'm calling and am like "Sooooo...you outted my guy to the media unnecessarily. You know there may be consequences for that, right?"

Gotta pick your battles. They didn't pick this one, or the manner is which they fought it, very wisely.

I like that Ainge and Stevens called him out on this one, it's ridiculous that a 28 year old feels the need to celebrate his b-day and miss a game (don't care if he wasn't playing ) ...can't wait a week or a few days until you get home? 

[kozlodoev]

Given that this whole issue is because Brad/Ainge don't want Doc's policies going forward I wouldn't point to Doc as a great leader while bemoaning this incident.

Doc's policies were designed to cater to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last time I checked, they worked pretty great for them.

I guess it should be pretty obvious why the management may suspect the professionalism of the current bunch is not sufficient for these policies to remain in place -- given the fact that the team captain apparently thought it was a good idea to throw a party during a scheduled team trip without notifying management until it was a done deal.

Because PP, KG, Ray never did such a thing? I'd be shocked if they hadn't based on what we know of Doc's policies, those three players, and the current incident.

I'd be shocked if Garnett or Pierce ever ignored a request from the management to travel with the team regardless of what their perception of the situation may have been.

Well then they can win the Good Person trophy or something. Take it from Sully and give it to them I guess. In the mean time we need great basketball players on this team who actually want to be here and don't demand max contracts. Do you know anyone like that? We need that. Not obedient little boy scouts or something.

I'd happily pay a max contract for a player that's worth it. Also, I believe the word you're looking for is "professionalism".

[Eja117]

Given that this whole issue is because Brad/Ainge don't want Doc's policies going forward I wouldn't point to Doc as a great leader while bemoaning this incident.

Doc's policies were designed to cater to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Last time I checked, they worked pretty great for them.

I guess it should be pretty obvious why the management may suspect the professionalism of the current bunch is not sufficient for these policies to remain in place -- given the fact that the team captain apparently thought it was a good idea to throw a party during a scheduled team trip without notifying management until it was a done deal.

Because PP, KG, Ray never did such a thing? I'd be shocked if they hadn't based on what we know of Doc's policies, those three players, and the current incident.

I'd be shocked if Garnett or Pierce ever ignored a request from the management to travel with the team regardless of what their perception of the situation may have been.

Well then they can win the Good Person trophy or something. Take it from Sully and give it to them I guess. In the mean time we need great basketball players on this team who actually want to be here and don't demand max contracts. Do you know anyone like that? We need that. Not obedient little boy scouts or something.

I'd happily pay a max contract for a player that's worth it. Also, I believe the word you're looking for is "professionalism".

Yeah. Professionalism. Shaq. Kobe. Lebron. D Wade. All the champions. They just ooze professionalism. They're a lot more professional than Rondo. They would never expect to be treated better or different. And if they did their teams would be like "Heck no! What are you thinking? You need to be professional". 

[D.o.s.]

I love the people that are supporting him on here, he is wrong on this one.  I bet you guys would be killing Lebron, Melo, Paul, Kobe, Howard etc...if they pulled a stunt like this.  Rondo made a mistake, hopefully he learns from and the team can move on...

Nah, you're wrong. This was a non-issue that some very "impassioned" Grantland Rice-lites decided to turn into A SERIOUS REFERENDUM ON RONDO'S LEADERSHIP AND THE SORRY STATE OF BOSTON'S BASKETBALL CULTURE.

[LooseCannon]

Guys, the main problem is that a real team leader would have invited the entire team to his birthday party.  He probably didn't even bring them some of the leftover cake.

EDIT: Rondo can perhaps be forgiven for operating under old rules, in which players were discouraged from creating situations where Glen Davis was in the same room as a cake.

[BballTim]

I do like Rondo but can we quit the talk that he is the smartest guy in the room???  The fact is that he isn't

  Why would that be a fact? Almost everyone who comments on his intelligence disagrees with you. How much more do you know about how smart Rondo is than the coaches and players?